Up Up & Away With @Ponderful!

By Lynn Ponder:  Anytime I have a doubt about my new career and entrepreneurship, I get a sign from the Universe, which morphs into an amazing new opportunity that proves to confirm that my pivoting into an innovative new business model was the right move.

I have worked so hard since I launched webcitygirls// in Nov. 2010 and being an entrepreneur, I am use to taking risks, but this new venture was so new to me that it has been challenging to say the least, and at the same time I have been so blessed to meet virtual angels that willingly are sharing and spreading my positive messages.

Let me please briefly tell you about my growth in 2012 and all the new knowledge I have acquired.

In February I was invited by The Ford Motor Company to Portland, Oregon for a First Drive of the Mustang 2013, which was like being in the Reality Show AmaZing Race LOL!  Also cleared media credentials for Univision, Premio Lo Nuestro which by the way, one of the videos I shot of Chino y Nacho is going on 34,450 hits on my YouTube channel with total views of 71,028 WEPA!

In March I was so lucky to attend  SXSWi in Austin, Texas, which is one of the most fascinating conferences in the US as it covers the latest and greatest in Social Media combining Digital, Film and Music Events. I covered my first concert Romeo Santos , traveled to Puerto Rico and was a guest on live TV Show America CV Network “Tecnologia al Dia” with Carlos Ochoteco.

“Tecnologia Al Dia” con Carlos Ochoteco:

In April I was so fortunate to have been invited by Manny Ruiz, Founder of Hispanicize to speak on two social media panels.  I took advantage of this invitation and prepared myself to be in front of a demanding and hungry audience, which made me grow as a social media professional.  Hispanicize 2012 opened doors to collaboration with brands like Fox Hispanic Media, Radio Shack and Amway US.

From Hispanicize I went on a short trip to San Francisco to test drive Ford Escape 2013 and met with high ranking executives of The Ford Company followed by them hiring me as a social media contributor of the Ford Escape Routes Reality Show in Miami including a webcitygirls appearance on the NBC Reality Show as judge of one of the challenges.

Immediately off to cover the Latin Billboards Conference where I met many new artists that I am starting to promote in my newest venture webcityTeens (this new subject will require another post) as well as to be on the red carpet of the Latin Music Billboards. Telemundo makes Latin Billboards a fun experience and so grateful to have been invited, as it allows me to create social content that my fans like/want and share the artists news/music with my fans.

Pitbull Talks Music Business at Latin Billboards Conference 2012!

Cut to May as I attended the largest Hispanic advertising conference AHAA where I met with the top agencies in the Hispanic market furthering my possibilities of creating new business collaboration opportunities.  Followed by a fun trip to NYC invited by Fox Hispanic Media to cover upfront of the launch of a new TV Station called Mundo Fox which has amazing programming and a slogan that says it all “Latino Entertainment with an American Attitude”.  My blog post got published on Hispanic.Ad.com !!! I was also thrilled to have been invited to cover MTV3 upfront with a live performance by Juanes and met the charming host Wilmer Valderrama.

#TwitterHellos Christopher Von Uckerman from Fox Hispanic Media Upfront 2012!

And here goes the part of my story that confirms [Dreams Do Come True]:

All of the above was really incredible but then I got an invitation of a lifetime and the most privileged one yet.  I was selected by the largest organization in the US of Latinos in Social Media LATISM, as a Top Latina Blogger in the country based on influence, content quality and ability to build community through blog and social media. This special Bloggers Retreat included a trip to Washington DC, for 2 days of mentoring on entrepreneurship, advocacy and leadership plus the most prestigious invite ever: a White House Policy Briefing  with July Rodriguez, Associate Director, Office of Public Engagement, Cecilia Muñoz, Assistant to the President and Director of Domestic Policy, Liz Fowler, Special Assistant to the President, National Economic Council, Alejandra Ceja, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secreatary, Department of Education, Lisa Pino, Deptuy Administrator, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Department of Agriculture, Marissa Duswalt, Associate Director for Policy and Events, Let’s Move! Initiative, and Jon Carson, Director, Office of Public Engagement. …

You can imagine how elated and proud I felt and feel to have been picked as one of the top Latina digital influencers in the US, visiting the White House by far the most important honor of my career.  I also feel so lucky to have shared and met the amazing Top Blogueras of the US, who are strong, determined, intelligent women making a difference in our world.

I want to thank LATISM Ana Roca Castro and Elainne Ramos for an outstanding leadership and dedication to the Latino Community.  Ana and Elianne you are remarkable women and the best examples to lead us.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this extraordinary opportunity and for your tenacity and determination in creating the First Historic Top Bloggers Retreat in Washington DC!  Also hugs and GRACIAS a la maravillosa de Elma Placeres Dieppa. Las quiero xo!

One last shout out to the amaZing sponsors that participated with out hesitating and mentored us with kindness throughout the Top Latina Blogueras Retreat: Johnson & Johnson, Sarah L. Colamarino, Fleishman-Hillard, Marieli E. Colon Padilla, McDonald’s Corporation, Sylvia Aguilera and Tara Handy, Porter Novelli, Sonia Sroka, Comcast Corporation, Maria G. Arias, Southwest Airlines, Olga Romero, Univision News, Nuria Net, Google, Eliana Murillo, Babble, Catherine Connors, New Latina, Angelica Perez-Litwin, Latina Bloggers Connect, Ana Flores, Consumer Reports, Elena Chavez, Todo Bebe, Jeannette Kaplun y Las Blogueras, Yoly Mason APLAUSOS Y MIL GRACIAS

 

 

 

About The Author

Perfectionist, Passionate, Tenacious. Recognized by The Huffington Post as a Twitter Powerhouse. Selected by LATISM as Top Latina Digital Influencer.